My students are working through tht different challenges, adjusting motor speed, direction, etc. I am working a class of 33 students (13 teams) and space is at a premium. Is there another way to compile, download and run programs without being right near the joystick/cortex using the VexNet? Can we download the program straight to the Cortex and simply turn on the bot, or can we program a button on the controller to run the program?

Any advice is welcomed!

Brian Grigsby

You can plug in the USB to USB cable from your computer into your cortex. You can download the program and run it directly from the debugger window that should pop up. If you want to disconnect the bot from the computer and have the program run, then download the program, disconnect your robot, turn off the bot, and turn it back on again. If you are not connected to the joystick, the cortex will take about half a minute to a minute (This is purely from memory and experience, and I have no documentation or hard facts to back this up) to start the program. I remember trying to start the program without the joystick, and it was quite frustrating when nothing happened. Just turn on the bot and let it sit there until the program starts.

You can eliminate the wait at startup if you turn off VEXnet searching. Go to Robot > VEX Cortex Download Method, and choose "Download using USB Only". You'll need to redownload your program and power-cycle the Cortex for the change to take place.

Thanks so much...I will let the kids know!

Brian